Tonarto Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 (edited) I have a perfectly functioning. 20 year old fridge in my garage that recently started tripping the GFCI outlet it’s plugged into. Same outlet for previous 14 years with no issues. There’s no ice maker in the fridge.Decided to take an extension cord and run it to another GFCI outlet on the other wall of the garage and it trips it there as well. (About 5-6 times per day).Is the issue the fridge or something else?PS. A recent power surge zapped my frig circuit board. The repairman said to get a surge protector. Is there some special heavy duty thing required for a frig (versus, say, for a computer)? What can you say about this products https://refrigeratorfaq.com/surge-protector-for-a-refrigerator/ ? Thanks. Edited June 29, 2020 by Tonarto Quote
husoi Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 Sounds like the thermostat is faulty.Have you check if it only trips when thermostat goes on or all the time?Try bypassing it and see if it still does it. Quote
husoi Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 More likely the motor capacitor is bolloxed a fiver says isn't Quote
dynax Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 More likely the motor capacitor is bolloxed a fiver says isn't Monopoly money Quote
husoi Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 More likely the motor capacitor is bolloxed a fiver says isn't Monopoly money Unless there was a power surge and network earthing failed the capacitor will last as long as the motor, those things are pretty much indestructible.On the other hand the thermostat is the weakest link and normally a unbranded one costs as much as £15.One other thing that could be causing it would be the light switch or the bulb support, but there was no mention that the light isn't working Quote
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 Every time we've had random tripping it's been a fridge or a freezer causing a surge when they cut in. Can't help with a solution though as in our last place the sparks wired a separate spur for the fridge with a different breaker on it. Quote
Bender Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 Motors fooked, throw it away.If you have any doubts about the safety of it suggest you Google Grenfel Quote
JRH Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 It’s the 120 volts at 60 hertz that’s the problem. Seriously as it is tripping the earth leakage circuit breaker (British terminology) there is probably a breakdown in the motor insulation causing a high resistance path to earth. But enough to trip the breaker. Short answer motor is toast. Buy a new fridge. Quote
Ian Frog Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 Bet he keeps opening the door and taking a beer out !CheersIan Quote
Tiggie Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 I had a similar issue once and it turned out to be the tumble dryer. Water had got into the circuitry. Dried it all out and its still running now without an issue. Probably no use to you, just wanted to share that my problem was an easy fix Quote
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